Sunbeam Layoffs

A four state manufacturer is closing leaving hundreds of workers without a job. Officials with the Sunbeam manufacturing plant in Neosho have announced the plant is shutting down. Sunbeam representatives have announced the plant will soon be closing in Neosho. That means around 450 workers will be out of a job beginning the week of January 13th. The company which produces barbecue grills and other outdoor products has been a fixture in the Neosho community for many years. In a statement, Sunbeam representatives says the company is revamping its business model,making the layoffs necessary. They say the company plans to pay compensation and benefits to their employees during the layoffs. This isn`t the first time the company has had to lay off a large portion of its employees. Last December, the Sunbeam plant in Neosho announced cuts of 640 jobs.And in 2001 the plant declared bankruptcy. The Neosho department of economic development is in the beginning stages of planning a job fair for the workers affected by the closing. "This is not the first time we`ve had a plant closing. Certainly with as much manufacturers as this community has it won`t be the last. We have been very successful in the past with our job fairs,"said Gib Garrow,Neosho Department of Economic Development. Local employers from Joplin and Neosho will be involved in the upcoming job fair to interview the displaced Sunbeam workers. No date has been announced when the fair will be held. KSN tried to contact Sunbeam representatives today about the layoffs. They refused to talk on camera. Reported By:Brad Douglas